Just like before, Ryota slowly channeled his chakra into the scroll.
Buzz—!!
The scroll trembled slightly, and with a soft click, countless complex jutsu formulas surged into Ryota's mind like a torrential flood.
Strings of information rapidly restructured, assembling into a single name:
Forbidden Jutsu: Flying Raijin Jutsu—Advanced Version
"…?"
Ryota froze for a few seconds, then quickly realized something was off.
"Flying Raijin Jutsu? I remember this is classified as an S-rank space-time jutsu, right?"
"Why is it labeled as a forbidden jutsu now?"
In the officially published Databook, S-rank techniques are defined as ultimate-level, high-difficulty jutsu.
Sealing Jutsu: Reaper Death Seal, Reanimation, Immortality Jutsu…
All of these world-breaking techniques are S-rank.
And Flying Raijin is the first S-rank space-time jutsu in the Naruto universe.
It's the Yellow Flash's—no, wait…
It's Namikaze Minato's signature move, the legendary skill that turned the tide of the Third Great Ninja War single-handedly.
Because it stacks "S-rank," "Secret Technique," "Ultimate Move," and all sorts of other buffs, it was always destined to be a jutsu that wasn't easy to master.
But thinking about it, with how ridiculously broken Flying Raijin is, it's no surprise Kishimoto wouldn't let just anyone learn it.
Otherwise, if a bunch of people started teleporting around like it's Dragon Ball, the whole world would fall apart.
Ryota shifted his gaze to the three words at the end of the jutsu:
Advanced Version
His brow twitched, and a row of question marks practically popped out above his head.
"Wait… Flying Raijin can be upgraded??"
With that thought, he immediately pulled up its description and started skimming through it.
Before long, the room fell into a strange silence.
It wasn't shock. It wasn't joy.
It was that kind of silence where you just… don't know what to say.
Everyone knows—Flying Raijin is a top-tier jutsu, but it's not without weaknesses.
The core issue is the marker's perception—you need to sense the marker before you can teleport.
If you can't sense it, the jutsu's useless.
Also, if the marker is destroyed or hidden in another dimension, you're screwed.
For example, when Obito became the Ten-Tails' Jinchūriki, he forcibly erased Minato's seal mark from his body.
That's the limit of the original Flying Raijin—the biggest risk.
But now, the advanced version Ryota just unlocked?
It erased all of those weaknesses in one go.
No prep time. As long as the marker exists, you can teleport instantly.
No chant, no warning, no casting animation—just pure space-jumping.
Take the siege battle, for example: if Ryota had placed a marker in the city's core before the War Game started, he could've teleported Ajisai straight to the rear in one second.
That would've literally been a speedrun strategy—a one-minute clear.
"Yeah…"
Ryota laid back down on the bed, hands behind his head, eyes fixed on the ceiling.
"In the ninja world, only jutsu inventors like Tobirama Senju and prodigies like Namikaze Minato could master this. Both of them were Kage-level."
"But in Orario—a world where everyone still runs on foot… calling this 'forbidden jutsu' is actually kinda conservative."
But then Ryota's expression shifted as another thought hit him.
"Wait… what if I use Flying Raijin for expeditions?"
Doesn't matter if you're a small Familia or top-tier forces like Loki Familia or Freya Familia.
Every Dungeon dive is a massive resource and manpower gamble.
Supplies, detours, logistics, equipment wear and tear—it's all linked together.
Even veteran groups like Loki Familia need months to recover after each expedition.
But if he planted markers in the middle and deep levels…
Ryota flipped his wrist, and the kunai he'd commissioned from the Hephaestus Familia appeared in his hand.
"No need to loop back. No need to reorganize teams. No need for long rests."
"If I leave a marker on the 50th floor, I can depart from the surface today, and in the next second I'm in front of a monster horde—kick their asses, then come back and take a shower."
His eyes gleamed brighter.
"It's not just tactical ambushes. I could restructure the entire cost of expeditions."
"Hell, I could even complete small-scale expeditions solo."
Suddenly, he remembered the still-unfinished third phase of his Main Quest.
They'd won the War Game, and Freya Familia had disbanded.
But according to the system—that still wasn't enough.
Just like Ryota had suspected, completing the Main Quest wasn't about simple victories.
It was about comprehensive, multidimensional evaluation.
Freya Familia's deepest known exploration was the 58th floor.
Ryota had a strong gut feeling—that was the last barrier blocking him from the "Top Seat."
If Loki Familia wanted to truly surpass the shadow Freya left behind,
They'd have to break that record—and far exceed it.
And with Flying Raijin, this ultimate combination of strategy, efficiency, and mobility?
It was all possible.
If they could dominate in combat power, exploration depth, and logistics at the same time—
Then the title of "Number One Familia" would be solid. Unshakable.
Of course—that was still just Ryota's guess.
"Dreams are sweet. Reality's a slap in the face."
"Only way to find out is to do it myself."
He sat up from the bed, fingers lightly rubbing the kunai.
"Flying Raijin Formula."
The moment he spoke, a golden formula lit up, spiraling around the kunai's handle.
Ryota casually flicked it—thunk! The kunai stabbed into the shadowed part of the floor nearby.
With a thought—
Swish!
The air seemed to tear. The surrounding scenery blurred.
In the time it takes to breathe, Ryota was already at the kunai's location.
It was like he'd completed a space-time jump.
Looking down at the ground, then at his now-empty hand, a faint gleam flickered in his eyes.
"…It's really teleportation."
"And there's literally no delay."
He bent down, picked up the kunai.
"I'm the caster, so teleporting myself is no problem."
"But… can I take people with me?"
In the original, Tobirama used Flying Raijin to move people all the time during battles.
Even in the Nine-Tails incident, Minato teleported with Naruto, Kushina—and even Kurama when it was about to fire a Tailed Beast Bomb.
"So that means…"
"As long as I have enough chakra, I can carry people—or even giant targets like Tailed Beasts."
Ryota weighed the kunai in his hand thoughtfully.
"And as for chakra…"
He had both Hashirama Cells and Sage Chakra.
"Looks like I'll need to find time to drag Ais and Lefiya out for a test flight."
The moment that thought crossed his mind, a familiar system notification rang in his ears.
[Ding—Main Branch Quest Activated!]
[Participate in an expedition and return safely (0/1). Incomplete. Reward: Unknown.]
"Welp, new job popped up again."
Ryota chuckled, just about to flop back into bed for a nap when—knock knock knock—someone tapped at the door.
But this time, it wasn't Lefiya or Ais.
It was his own goddess, Loki.
"Ryota! Ryota!"
"Don't sleep! Come celebrate at the banquet!"
...
Front of The Hostess of Fertility.
"Ah! It's Lady Loki, nya!"
Anya, the catgirl hostess, was completely flustered as she saw the group from Loki Familia arrive.
Especially when her gaze landed on that familiar-yet-different black-haired boy.
Her cat ears twitched violently.
"I-It's you, nya!!"
Anya's eyes widened like saucers, her voice suddenly an octave higher.
She remembered the time she'd spotted this handsome guy, dragged him into the tavern, and basically tried sell him drinks.
Poor catgirl's heart thudded wildly.
This was the man who had crushed Freya Familia in the War Game—Ryota!
The monster who blew down the main castle gate without even breaking a sweat, nya!
And now this black-haired boy stood at the center of Loki Familia's core members.
Everyone's attention revolved around him.
That aura, that setup, that presence…
Anya's little brain went into overdrive, running triple-speed inner drama:
Bringing so many people… he's not here for revenge, right, nya!?
Should I go get Mama Mia for backup, nya!?
Where the hell did Chloe run off to, nya!?
Her mind had already staged half an episode of The Hostess of Fertility Falls Tonight.
Ryota noticed her panic and smiled.
"Long time no see, Miss Anya."
"P-Please forgive me, nya!!!"
"About that day—it wasn't on purpose, nya!! I was just doing business!! I'm not really a boy-crazy cat, nya!!!"
Everyone: ???
Loki narrowed her eyes, giving Ryota a teasing look.
"Ryota, are you secretly a reincarnated succubus or something?"
"Why does everyone you meet turn red?"
"You already roped in Lefiya, and now even the cat-eared girls are falling for you?"
(Ais: What about me?)
Lefiya's face turned beet red.
"L-Lady Loki, p-please don't say that!"
"See? Red again!"
Loki burst into laughter, while Ryota's mouth twitched, a dark line crossing his face.
At that moment—click—the door to The Hostess of Fertility opened from the inside.
Ryuu Lion stepped out, her gaze calmly sweeping over the group, lingering briefly on Ryota.
She didn't say much, just gave a polite bow.
"Welcome, Lady Loki."
"Your seats are ready. This way, please."
"Ohhhhhhh!!!"
Loki instantly switched modes, raising both hands high, her whole face practically screaming, we're getting smashed tonight.
"We're drinking till the sun comes up!!!"
"Let's go, let's go—!!"
She dashed inside like a gust of wind.
"Come on, Ryota, let's relax tonight."
Finn smiled, leading Riveria and the others after her.
The tavern erupted into a festive clamor.
Soon, only Ryota and Ryuu were left at the entrance.
After a brief pause, Ryuu softly spoke.
"…Congratulations, Mr. Ryota."
She didn't use flowery words or exaggerated praise.
Just a simple sentence—yet it carried genuine, heartfelt recognition.
"Thank you."
After a moment, Ryota added:
"Last time, you covered my bill."
"This time, it's my treat."
Ryuu instinctively opened her mouth to decline, but for some reason, the words "I still have work" never came out.
After a moment of hesitation, something stirred inside her.
Almost reflexively, she nodded.
"…Alright."